There are many reasons to get into cybersecurity and no time like the present to get the education you need for a career in the field. Many people are interested in cybersecurity. They want to know how to get into cybersecurity, where to learn about cybersecurity, how to get started in cybersecurity, and how to get into cybersecurity with no experience. If you’re trying to get something for nothing, you’re not going to get very far. But the good news is that most people know at least a little bit about cybersecurity.
Start With What You Know
You know, for example, that it’s a good idea to have anti-malware software on your computer. Also, you know that using the same password for all of your accounts is a bad idea. Probably you are aware that giving out your physical home address on Facebook is unwise. Believe it or not, this is a fairly decent basis for a basic level of expertise in cybersecurity. So congratulations, you have already taken the first steps on your journey.
An Accidental Journey into Cybersecurity
According to cybersecurity experts writing for UC Berkeley, there is an increasing number of people going into cybersecurity “on accident.” These “accidental cybersecurity experts” didn’t sit around wondering how to get into cybersecurity. They started in some IT or computer-related field and naturally moved into cybersecurity as an extension of their existing profession. What they did not do is sit in front of an Internet-connected computer and idly ask how to get into cybersecurity?
Before going any further, let’s dispense with a common fallacy. People who ask the question of how to get into cybersecurity with no experience are going to end up spinning their wheels. The key is to realize that you do have experience (if you indeed do have it) and to build on it. To begin, let’s get our heads around what cybersecurity is.
What is Cybersecurity?
Obviously, “cyber” simply means having to do with computers or the Internet. We know what “security” means. It means the quality of being under control, predictable, and in an uncompromised, known location. So we can dispense with the mystery surrounding the word “cyber.”
How to Get into Cybersecurity With no Experience
To be fair, the fact remains that you probably have got some work to do if you are asking questions like “how to get started in cybersecurity?” The bottom line is that you are going to need to develop some salable level of expertise. however, the good news is that there are easy ways to do this. You could binge-watch YouTube videos on cybersecurity while playing video games, during meals, as you drift off to sleep, etcetera.
There are free and cheap courses available online that don’t offer degrees but that will impart the information you need in a challenging way. So the question isn’t so much, “how to learn about cybersecurity?” It’s “can I get into cybersecurity?” To that, the answer is a resounding “Yes.” Here’s why.
5 Reasons Why You Can Get into Cybersecurity
At the end of the day, if you’re wringing your hands wondering how to get into cybersecurity with no experience, just stop. You cannot do anything without experience. But you can get into cybersecurity without having been paid for your experience.
1. The Market is in Your Favor
Everyone needs their data and hardware secured, and there are more people without much knowledge in cybersecurity than there are with. That’s where you come in. By taking the time to develop that knowledge by reading articles online, watching educational videos, taking free or inexpensive courses, and getting certifications, you can develop a salable level of knowledge quickly.
2. Degrees are Not Required
When it comes to tech, knowledge is where it is at. A degree program is a sure way to develop knowledge, but it is not the only way. Employers know this. That’s why some of the most impressive tech experts developed their expertise by tinkering in a garage as a teenager and got hired by a big firm or started their own companies before they were even old enough to go to college.
3. Certifications Count
To become a valuable cybersecurity expert, you only need a key skillset to provide a service that people need and are willing to pay for. For that, a simple certification is often enough to open the door
4. Colleges Don’t Have a Monopoly on Learning
Remember, the college system does not own, nor did it invent, learning. You have a computer right in front of you. You can start right now by looking up the information you need.
5. Many Employers Care About Competence- Not Degrees
The best employers recognize talent and skill when they see it. All you have to do is develop the skills you need. The employers are waiting.
No Time Like the Present to Get into Cybersecurity
TechRepublic writes that new cybersecurity professionals are flooding the market from all sectors. For anyone interested in how to get started in cybersecurity, that is both good news and bad news. First, the good news is that it is very possible to break into cybersecurity. However, the bad news is that the market is approaching the saturation point quite rapidly. So, act quickly if you want to start a career in cybersecurity.
Related:
- Top 10 Online Criminal Investigation Master’s Programs
- What Degree Should I Get to Be a Private Investigator?
- 10 Free Online Tools for Security Careers
- Best Jobs for Former Law Enforcement Officer
- Top 10 Online Cyber Security Undergrad Certificate Programs
- 10 Online Cyber Security Graduate Certificate Programs
- 20 Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity
